Jerusalem – Hundreds Mourn Teenager Ari Nesher, Who Was Killed In A Hit And Run

Jerusalem – Hundreds came to mourn the death and honor the life of Ari Nesher at the cemetery at Moshav Udim on Sunday.

Nesher died on his 17th birthday at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv on Thursday after in a hit-and-run car accident early Monday morning when he was riding his bike with a friend.

Nesher, the son of leading Israeli director, Avi Nesher, was eulogized by family and friends in a ceremony filled with music and joyful memories of his tragically short life.

Members of the Israeli filmmaking community, including renowned actors, directors, and many who work behind the scenes at the film industry, stood side-by-side with the Nesher family and their friends, sharing a grief for the tragic loss of this talented, bright, affectionate and charismatic boy that humbled everyone.

A choir from Nesher’s school performed choral music and Nathan Goshen, a well-known Israeli musician who appears in Avi Nesher’s latest movie, The Other Story, played the American folk classic 500 Miles, which was one of Ari’s favorite songs.

Ari was eulogized by several teachers and friends. Many who spoke said that Ari, who volunteered for MDA and hoped to be a paramedic in the army, would have approved of his parents’ decision to donate his organs, which were transplanted into five Israelis on Friday in order to save their lives. That was one of the notes of grace in an otherwise dark day.

Dozens of MDA staff attended arrived at the funeral on their motorcycles and in ambulances. When one young woman collapsed in the heat, MDA staff were right there to revive her.